The name Tezpur literally means the "city of blood". Legend has it that the original name of this place was 'Xonitpur' ('Xonit' means blood). When the battle between Krishna's army and Lord Shiva, his disciple Banasura's army fought for the rescue of Aniruddha (who was the grandson of Lord Krishna, according to legend) there was so much bloodshed that the place was stained red. This led to the name of the place becoming Tezpur. The Shiva temples in and around Tezpur shows the love and devotions of King Baanasur for Lord Shiva.

Banasura was the eldest of the hundred sons of Bali, who in turn was the son of Virochana and grandson of Prahlada (son of Hiranyakashipu and devotee of Narasimha). Banas mother was Vindhyavali. Bana, the king of demons (asuras), ruled over Sonita-pura. The word 'bana' also means an arrow. He went to the Himalayan regions and performed a penance invoking Shiva's favour. When Shiva appeared in answer to his austerities, Bana begged the god to bestow a thousand arms carrying a multitude of weapons to destroy his enemies and opponents. He also desired that Parvati should consider him as her son. Bana was a great devotee of Shiva and there are several famous self manifest bana-lingas being worshipped in India. Banasura was a powerful and terrible asura. All people, the king of earth, and Devas of heaven were afraid of him. Bana was a follower of Siva. Banasura ruled in present-day central Assam with his capital at Sonitpur (present-day Tezpur). Banasura's wife's was Kandala. Banasura had a beautiful daughter named Usha. Usha one day saw a young man in her dream and fell in love with him. He was Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. There was a war between Banasura and Krishna in which Banasura was defeated. Krishna married Usha with Aniruddha and brought them to dwaraka. Banasura moved to Himalayas and devoted his life in worship of Shiva.
Xunitpur ( Tezpur) Historical ruins from the 8th and 9th centuries dot the surrounding areas. Resemble Gupta period art. The ruins of Da Parbatia are an example of the architecture around the 6th century AD. Tezpur is considered to be the capital of Assamese culture. Notable residents include Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903–51), Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha (1909–69), and Phani Sarma (1909–70), were from Tezpur.
Modern Tezpur was founded by the British colonial administration in 1835 as the headquarters of Darrang district. During World War II, Tezpur received large numbers of refugees fleeing from Burma, particularly the corps of Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian nurses.

Historical ruins from the 8th and 9th centuries dot the surrounding areas. The ruins of Bamuni Hills are the most famous. They resemble Gupta period art. Accordingly, there are plenty of myths as well. The ruins of Da Parbatia are an example of the architecture around the 6th century AD. The people of Deori community believe that their ancestors originally lived in the Sotai hills which are situated north of Tezpur near the borders of Sonitpur district and East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The historically rich city bears magnificent relics from its past. Although now urbanised, most of the places worth seeing in[3] and around Tezpur speak of its history. Be it the famed Mahabhairav Temple [4], Bhairabi Temple (Maithan)[5], the man-made hill of Agnigarh[6] or the naturally rich outskirts of Nameri National Park[7] and Bhalukpong, the place is thronged by visitors almost all year long.

Connecting the city to the district of Nagaon is another majestic structure, the Kaliabhomora Bridge[8] .

Rock inscriptions: In 1897, Sir Edward Albert Gait discovered a copper inscription in Tezpur the deciphering of which provided information regarding the Ahom rulers.[citation needed] He referenced the nine line inscription of Harjjar Varma in 'A History of Assam'. The inscription, dating to 829 A.D., is the first historical record of Assam. The inscription was found engraved on a massive stone some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Tezpur town near Rudrapad Temple.[citation needed]

Hazara Pukhuri: A king of the dynasty Harjjar Varma excavated a large pond in 70 acres (280,000 m2) of land, later came to be known as Hajara Pukhuri (Harjjara Pukhuri).[citation needed]

Christian cemetery: The cemetery dates to the 17th century. It contains the grave of Alexander Bruce, founder of the tea industry in India, and of Europeans who died here before independence.[citation needed]

The first electric power station in this part of India was established at Tezpur by the British in 1913.[citation needed]

Jonaki: The first cinema hall of Northeast India was established by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala in 1935.[citation needed] {{subst:Please link images|File:Jonaki Cinema Hall.jpg}}

Chitraban: The first film studio of Northeast India was established by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala in 1934.[citation needed]

The twin lakes Bor Pukhuri and the Padum Pukhuri in the heart of the city memorialize King Bana and his daughter Usha.[citation needed]

In 1983 a part of the district was carved out to form a separate district, Darrang. Tezpur was made the headquarters of the new district of Sonitpur.[citation needed]
There is also a Statue In Memory of Unidentified Soldiers who laid their lives in N.E.F.A. defending our Motherland. Their ASHES immersed with full Military Honours in the River Brahmaputra at TEZPUR on 18 November 1963.[citation needed]
Diganta kumar bhuyan:
diganta kumar bhuyan is an Assamese from Tezpur,Sonitpur District of Assam.He is Script Writer,Director,Drama music Director & Actor. He is also the executive member of Baan Theatre,Tezpur.

The average temperature in summer is around 36 °C (97 °F) while the average winter temperature is around 13 °C (55 °F).[9]
The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH) was initially set up as Tezpur Lunatic Asylum under the British Government in April, 1876. |publisher=Bhargab Baruah, Tezpur

Tezpur is considered[by whom?] to be the capital of Assamese culture. Being from the core Assamese cultural region, notable residents include Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903–51), Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha (1909–69), and Phani Sarma (1909–70), were from Tezpur. Baan Stage was the theatre where they first performed. Nikamul Satra is at Mazgaon, a center of Vaishnavaite culture.
There is also Old Baan Theatre near Jail Road at first Baan stage was there and for lack of a theatre hall area, new Baan Theatre was established at the Town area.
At Dadhara there is Jyoti-Bishnu khelpathar. The fields are used for cultural events.

Naba Prabhat Naba Prabhat is an Orphanage founded on 3 February 2006 by Bidyut Saikia. The Orphanage is situated at Ketekibari near Ketekeswar Devalaya. Many visitors from the local and from other districts of Assam visits the orphanage for the celebration of happy moments with the orphan kids of Naba Prabhat.The Founder of this Orphanage died on 30th September 2011.[citation needed]

The majority of the people in the urban areas are of Hindu faith although a small number of Jains Sikhs and Muslim are also found.In the rural areas the people adhere to a reformed form of Hinduism known as neo-vaishnavite movement founded in 1500s by the Assamese reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.

Jyoti Bharati - (Poki) The First Concrete House in Assam made by Haribilash Agarwalla. Assamese Culture and the Baan Theatre, Darrang College, Mahila Samiti etc. and much more organizing committee was formed in Poki. In Poki various society and group of individuals involved in the persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. It was handed over the Government of Assam at the time of Hon'ble Cultural Minister Late. Hiteswar Saikia. Haribilash Agarwalla built the Jyoti Bharati (Poki) in 1874. He was a Tea Farmer by profession and a religious belief person. It was built in the style of Ahom Dynasty buildings.To build this building Haribilash Agarwala has brought many equipment from various part of India.[citation needed]

Dak Bunglow - It is situated at the heart of the Tezpur City which was established in 1881.[citation needed]|publisher=Bhargab Baruah, Tezpur.

District Museum - The District Museum was firstly established in 1986 near Darrang College Road and after 1997 it was permanently situated near Duk Bunglow at Tezpur town area.[citation needed]

Bishnu Rabha Cremation Spot - It is the Bishnu Rabha (Kalaguru) Cremation Spot situated at the bank of river Brahmaputra area near Maa Bhairabi Temple at Kalibari, Tezpur. Bishnu Rava honourly named as Kalaguru who died in 20th June 1969.[citation needed]

The economy of Tezpur is dependent on its tea gardens. There are many tea gardens surrounding the town. The gardens and agriculture contribute to the local economy. The Zone III of the Assam Branch Indian Tea Association(ABITA) is located at Tezpur. Tezpur has manufacturing plants of FMCG brand Dabur and Patanjali's mega food park is under construction.

Presently Tezpur is a commercial, administrative and educational center. It also houses a major base of the Indian Army and Airforce (Salonibari), I.T.B.P, Bihaguri.

In 1987 the Kolia Bhomora Setu, over the Brahmaputra, was inaugurated connecting Tezpur to the southern district of Nagaon. The bridge in itself has become a tourist attraction. Dekargaon railway station is the nearest railway station of Tezpur which is about 10 km away from the town. The airport is located at Salonibari, 10 km from the heart of the city but is less operated and connects to very few Indian cities which include state capital Guwahati and Kolkata. Tezpur has daily direct flights to Kolkata and the service is provided by zoom airlines.[12]